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Sununu Sets Aim on Broadcast Flag Again

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the fcc-be-damned dept.

Flag waver writes "Senator John Sununu (R-NH) will introduce legislation that will prevent the FCC from creating technology mandates for the consumer electronics industry. As a result, the FCC would be hamstrung in its efforts to revive the broadcast flag. '"The FCC seems to be under the belief that it should occasionally impose technology mandates," Sununu said in a statement. "These misguided requirements distort the marketplace by forcing industry to adopt agency-blessed solutions rather than allow innovative and competitive approaches to develop."' Sen. Sununu previously tried without success to remove the broadcast flag provisions from the massive telecommunications bill that died before reaching the Senate floor during the last Congress."

1 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. PLEASE support this! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    All:

    I'm posting anon for damn good reason.

    I work engineering for one of the largest cable companies in the country. We've been hearing that all the new contracts have clauses forcing us to provide broadcast flag measures. We've been told to have it ready this spring for a test run against customers this summer.

    I'm talking about:
      - Disable record
      - Limit playback to N times
      - Disable analog
      - Limit outputs to 480i
      - Disable fast forward/rewind/skip forward/skip back

    I feel it's unethical... especially since you're already paying for these channels.

    Please support this legislation. I don't want this to happen!